Non-invasive wine taint detector

ABSTRACT

A system includes a computing device including a memory configured to store instructions. The computing device also includes a processor to execute the instructions to perform operations including initiating transmission of incident light from one or more light sources to a sealed bottle containing liquid. The operations also include receiving scattered light from the liquid contained in the sealed bottle. The operations also include processing one or more signals representative of the scattered light to detect interactions of the incident light with a particular molecule.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation application and claims priority under35 USC § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/140,698, filed Sep.25, 2018, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/246,722, filed Aug. 25, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,107,764),which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/928,557, filed Oct. 30, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,453,826), whichclaims priority under 35 USC § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/073,235, filed on Oct. 31, 2014, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The description relates generally to a non-invasive system for detectingthe contamination of liquids in sealed containers.

BACKGROUND

The last 20 years have seen growing interest and investment in wineworldwide. With this has come a growing expectation of quality.Unfortunately, like other products, wine can fall victim to externalinfluences that render it defective, e.g., poor production practices,inappropriate storage conditions, etc. These not only reduce itsquality, but may even render the wine unpalatable or at the very worstundrinkable.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a computing device implemented method includes initiatingtransmission of incident light from one or more light sources to asealed bottle containing liquid. The method also includes receivingscattered light from the liquid contained in the sealed bottle. Themethod also includes processing one or more signals representative ofthe scattered light to detect interactions of the incident light with aparticular molecule.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features.

In some implementations, the method also includes filtering thescattered light prior to processing one or more signals representativeof the scattered light.

In some implementations, processing one or more signals representativeof the scattered light includes filtering signals.

In some implementations, filtering the scattered light includes passingfrequencies of the received scattered light that are within a particularfrequency range.

In some implementations, the method also includes spectrally separatingthe scattered light prior to processing one or more signalsrepresentative of the scattered light.

In some implementations, the liquid is wine.

In some implementations, the particular molecule is trichloroanisole.

In some implementations, processing includes determining from theinteractions of the incident light with the trichloroanisole molecule ifthe wine is tainted.

In some implementations, the light source includes a laser.

In another aspect, a system includes a computing device including amemory configured to store instructions. The computing device alsoincludes a processor to execute the instructions to perform operationsincluding initiating transmission of incident light from one or morelight sources to a sealed bottle containing liquid. The operations alsoinclude receiving scattered light from the liquid contained in thesealed bottle. The operations also include processing one or moresignals representative of the scattered light to detect interactions ofthe incident light with a particular molecule.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features.

In some implementations, the liquid is wine.

In some implementations, the particular molecule is trichloroanisole.

In some implementations, processing includes determining from theinteractions of the incident light with the trichloroanisole molecule ifthe wine is tainted.

In some implementations, the light source includes a laser.

In another aspect, one or more computer-readable media storeinstructions that are executable by a processing device. Upon suchexecution, the instructions cause the processing device to performoperations including initiating transmission of incident light from oneor more light sources to a sealed bottle containing liquid. Theoperations also include receiving scattered light from the liquidcontained in the sealed bottle. The operations also include processingone or more signals representative of the scattered light to detectinteractions of the incident light with a particular molecule.

In some implementations, the liquid is wine.

In some implementations, the particular molecule is trichloroanisole.

In some implementations, processing includes determining from theinteractions of the incident light with the trichloroanisole molecule ifthe wine is tainted.

In some implementations, the light source includes a laser.

These and other aspects, features, and various combinations may beexpressed as methods, apparatus, systems, means for performingfunctions, program products, etc.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description andthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a bottle of wine which may or may not be tainted.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system for detecting tainted wine that isincorporated into a device.

FIG. 3 is an example flow chart of operations for detecting taintedwine.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a computing device and a mobilecomputing device that can be used to implement the techniques describedhere.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a bottle of wine 100 is illustrated that has thegeneral size and shape of many commercially available bottles. The winebottle 100 may be made of glass. While one particular bottle isillustrated in the figures, other bottles of similar or different size,shape and style may be utilized. Further, in some arrangements, othertypes of containers, vessels, etc. may be utilized, e.g., vessels forthe storage or delivery of wine.

Wine faults or defects, which may be present in the wine bottle 100, cancause unpleasant olfactory and gustatory characteristics and may resultfrom a variety of sources, such as poor hygiene at the winery, excessiveand/or insufficient exposure of the wine to oxygen, excessive orinsufficient exposure of the wine to sulfur, overextended maceration ofthe wine either pre- or post-fermentation, faulty fining, filtering andstabilization of the wine, the use of dirty oak barrels, over-extendedbarrel aging, the use of poor quality corks, etc. External to a winery,other factors associated with a wholesaler, retailer, end user, etc. cancontribute to faults in a bottle of wine. These include poor storageand/or transport, in which the wine is e.g., exposed to excessive heatand/or temperature fluctuations.

“Cork taint” is a term used in the wine industry to describe one suchwine fault, whose defining characteristics are a set of undesirablesmells and tastes in a bottle of wine. In general, cork taint can bedetected after the bottling and opening of a bottle of wine. Severalfactors can contribute to the presence of cork taint, amongst themcontaminated wooden barrels, storage and transport conditions, cleaningproducts in a winery, contaminated machinery or bottling equipment,airborne molds etc. In some instances, a cork stopper used to seal thebottle may be responsible. It is from this process that the term“corked” has evolved to describe wine tainted in this way.

It is estimated that there are up to one thousand different molecules inwine, with most of these molecules having a similar chemicalcomposition, and being present in very low concentrations. Some of thesemolecules are undesirable, such as 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA)molecules, the primary cause of cork taint in a bottle of wine. Winetaint is also caused by 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA) molecules, but theTBA molecule is generally less prevalent than TCA. Sulfur taint is alsoundesirable, and is caused by compounds like mercaptans/thiols such asethyl mercaptan or methanethiol The TCA molecule is typicallytransferred to the wine from the cork stopper, but it may also come fromother sources, and introduced either by the cork or before bottling. Ingeneral, wine containing TCA has a characteristic odor, predominantlydescribed as resembling the scent of a moldy substance. In addition towine, TCA can also be found in bottled water, beer, spirits, softdrinks, and other food products.

Molecules of interest like TCA and methanethiol contain distinctivechemical bonds that distinguish them from the rest of the molecules inwine, and which yield characteristic spectroscopic signals (e.g., Ramanfrequency shifts) that are unique to these molecules. In the case ofTCA, this is due to the presence of a carbon-chlorine bond, and in thecase of methanethiol, this is due to the presence of a carbon-sulfurbond.

TCA may be produced as a result of the interaction between microbes andchlorinated phenolic compounds present in natural cork (morespecifically, these microbes convert chlorophenols into chlorinatedanisole derivatives, which are then present in the cork and dissolveinto the wine), but they can also arise in the absence of microbes. Thechlorophenols can be absorbed by cork trees from contaminants inpesticides and wood preservatives. Further, chlorophenols can be aproduct of the chlorine bleaching process used to sterilize or bleach,wood, cork, and paper, or they can migrate from other objects, such asshipping pallets that have been treated by chlorophenols. The microbesthat produce TCA can be mold-forming fungi that live in small pores inthe bark of cork trees, airborne fungi in the facility, and bacteria orfungi like Aspergillus spores, Penicillium spores, Actinomycetes,Botrytis cinerea, Rhizobium spores, Streptomyces, etc.

Typically, corked wine is unpalatable because its natural aromas arereduced significantly. Severely corked wine can be undrinkable. Not onlydoes this lead to unhappy customers, but it also increases transactionalcosts due to the corrective action required upon detecting a “corked”bottle of wine (e.g., removing the tainted bottle from the supply chain,returning the bottle to the wine retailer, etc.).

Referring to FIG. 2, a system is illustrated that is capable ofdetecting tainted wine and other types of abnormalities and/orcharacteristics, e.g., by detecting TCA or other molecules of interestin a bottle of wine by using spectroscopy. Spectroscopy is anon-invasive technique, so, using the system, the molecules of interestcan be detected prior to opening the bottle of wine. Using the system, apurchaser can determine whether a bottle should be returned or possiblynot purchased in the first place, without the need to open the bottle. Aproducer can also keep back tainted bottles, guaranteeing production oftaint-free wine, and a supplier can filter the wine they buy and resell.The system can also suppress the occurrence of embarrassing events bothin restaurants and in private (e.g., serving tainted wine to friends,feeling intimidated by a sommelier etc.).

One or more techniques may be employed to detect wine taint in anon-invasive manner. For example, a spectroscopic system may be employedto detect the presence of the molecules of interest and render adetermination of whether the wine is tainted or not. In thisarrangement, the detection system is incorporated into a device 200,which is easily portable and either includes or can be adapted toinclude data collection, processing, and presentation needs. The device200 includes a light source 202 that emits light (sometimes referred toas incident light 204) into the bottle 100. In some implementations, thelight source is a laser. In some implementations, the light source is anLED. The incident light 204 may pass through an opticalsampling/filtering element 210 before it is incident on the bottle 100.The incident light 204 interacts with the contents of the bottle and isscattered in an omnidirectional manner. The scattered light 206 cancontain faint “optical fingerprints” of the different molecules presentin the wine. The “optical fingerprints” correspond to peaks or dipswhere the scattered light 206 has been scattered or absorbed byparticular molecules. In this way, the term “scattered light” 206emerging from the bottle 100 may include light that is transmitted,reflected, refracted, and dispersed, and constitutes light that has beenscattered or absorbed and emitted on an atomic/molecular level due tothe liquid in the bottle 100.

In this arrangement, the device 200 includes a detection system 208 thatis capable of collecting the scattered light 206. The detection system208 may include an optical collection element 212 that the scatteredlight 206 passes through before being incident on the detection system208. The detection system 208 can include a filtering element 214 (e.g.,one or more optical filters), a detector 216 (e.g., a charge-coupleddevice (CCD) detector or a photodiode), and a software processingelement 218 (e.g., software, hardware, or a combination of software andhardware). The information carried by the scattered light 206 isprovided to the software processing element 218, which processes thecollected information and determines whether the wine contained in thebottle 100 is tainted or not.

In some implementations, the scattered light 206 can go through one ormore pre-processing steps before the information carried by thescattered light 206 is provided to the software processing element 218.For example, the filtering element 214 can include a bandpass filterthat isolates one of the “optical fingerprints” that corresponds to apeaks or dip where the scattered light 206 has been scattered orabsorbed by a particular molecule. The filtering element 214 can alsoinclude one or more other filters for filtering unwanted signals apartfrom the peaks or dips of the molecule of interest, such as Rayleighscattered light, unwanted fluorescence, etc. Following filtering by thefiltering element 214, the scattered light 206 is directed onto asurface of the detector 216. In such an implementation, the detector 216can be a photodiode which to provides an output to the softwareprocessing element 218 that indicates the presence of molecules ofinterest such as TCA molecules in the wine contained in the bottle. Thesoftware processing element 218 can then compare the output of thedetector 216 to a threshold value to determine whether a signal ispresent.

In some implementations, the detection system 208 includes a spectralseparation element 220, a detector 222, and a software processingelement 224. The scattered light 206 goes through one or morepre-processing steps before the information carried by the scatteredlight 206 is provided to the software processing element 224 (e.g., adifferent software processing element than the software processingelement 218 described above). That is, the scattered light 206 isprimarily processed by the software processing element 224 to removeunwanted signals apart from the peaks or dips of interest. In such animplementation, the spectral separation element 220, which can include adiffraction grating, is configured to spectrally separate the scatteredlight 206. Following spectral separation by the diffraction grating, thescattered light 206 is directed onto a surface of the detector 222(e.g., a different detector than the detector 216 described above). Insuch an implementation, the detector 222 can be a CCD detector. Thedetector 222 then provides an output to the software processing element224, which processes the output to determine whether a signal ofinterest is present in the scattered light 206.

One or more mechanical implementations may be designed to interface thelight source 202, the optical sampling/filtering element 210, and/or thedetection system 208 to the bottle 100. For example, one or moremechanical clamps and/or structures that conform to the bottle's shapemay be used to appropriately position the system components such thatthey can interact with the bottle's 100 contents. In one arrangement, ahousing structure may provide an interface between the device 200 andthe bottle 100 (e.g., the housing clamps or slides over the bottle). Inanother arrangement, the device 200 is designed to fit around the bottle(e.g., in a “donut” configuration).

Various processing techniques may be employed by the detection system208 in order to collect and process the information needed to determinewhether the wine is tainted. For example, as described above, one ormore filtering operations may be executed on the scattered light 206, onone or more signals produced from the scattered light 206 by thedetection system 208, or on a combination of the scattered light 206 andthe corresponding signal(s), etc. Through particular filteringoperations (e.g., selecting appropriate frequency ranges), thefingerprint of the molecule of interest may be detected in the wine.

Parameters of the incident light 204 and the light source 202 may beselected based upon an interaction of the incident light 204 with thebottle 100 and its contents. In general, when the incident light 204interacts with the molecules contained in the wine, the light may beabsorbed (and later re-emitted) or the light may be scattered. Theformer process forms the basis of the measurement technique known asabsorption spectroscopy, while the latter process forms the basis forthe measurement technique known as Raman spectroscopy. Either of thesetechniques, or variations thereof, may be applied to the detection ofmolecules of interest.

For molecules, two types of scattering may occur. The first type ofscattering,

Rayleigh scattering, is an “elastic scattering” process in which aphoton bounces off a molecule like a billiard ball, emerging with thesame energy as it entered. The second type of scattering, Ramanscattering, is an inelastic scattering process in which the lightscattered by a molecule emerges having an energy level that is slightlydifferent (more or less) than the incident light. This energy differenceis generally dependent on the chemical structure of the moleculesinvolved in the scattering process.

Typically, most scattering that occurs in nature is Rayleigh scattering.For example, Rayleigh scattering provides the blue color to the sky: theintensity of the light that gets Rayleigh scattered by a molecule isinversely proportional to the fourth power of the wavelength of theincident light, which means that blue light (shorter wavelength) isscattered 10 times more than red light (longer wavelength), and hencesunlight incident on gas molecules in the air gets scattered as bluelight in every direction. Comparatively, Raman scattering is lessprevalent. For approximately one million photons Rayleigh scattered by amolecule, only one or a few photons are Raman scattered. Therefore, themost significant challenge in Raman spectroscopy is to separate theRaman scattered light from the predominant Rayleigh scattering thataccompanies it. The comparative scarcity of Raman scattering also meansthat it can be considered more difficult to detect than Rayleighscattering.

Raman spectroscopy is based on the fact that different molecularvibrations within 1 0 a sample translate into bigger or smaller shiftsin frequency for any Raman scattered light, and because this vibrationalinformation is specific to the chemical bonds and symmetry of themolecules, the frequency shifts translate into a specific molecularstructure. Thus, Raman spectroscopy can be considered as a powerfulinvestigative tool capable of providing “optical fingerprints” by whichmolecules can be identified, for example TCA, methanethiol, etc.

More technically speaking, a Raman scattering event can proceed asfollows. An incoming photon interacts with a molecule and polarizes thecloud of electrons around the nuclei, exciting the molecule to a virtualenergy state (i.e. not one of the molecule's real excited states, but astate created by the photon induced polarization, whose energy isdetermined by the frequency of the incident photon). This state is notstable and the photon is quickly re-radiated, or scattered. If nuclearmotion is induced during the scattering process, energy will betransferred either from the incident photon to the molecule or from themolecule to the scattered photon. The process is inelastic, and theenergy of the scattered photon will differ from that of the incidentphoton by one vibrational unit. Because the vibrational states of themolecule are dictated by its chemical structure, the shift in energy ofthe scattered photon will likewise then contain information about thatchemical structure. If nuclear motion is not induced and only electroncloud distortion is involved in the process, then the photon will bescattered with only a negligible change in frequency as electrons arecomparatively light, this (nearly) elastic scattering process isRayleigh scattering.

Different molecules are made up of different atoms in differentconfigurations, so each molecule bends, stretches, and vibrates in aslightly different way. Some of the photons scattered by a molecule willchange the way the molecule is vibrating, and in turn, the energy ofthose photons will be changed by a very small amount. This change inenergy is directly proportional to the vibration of the molecule, andhence to its chemical configuration, so Raman scattered light can bethought of as an “optical fingerprint” that can be used to identify amolecule by its chemical structure. Other spectroscopic techniques maybe used to investigate molecules, and could be used to detect moleculesof interest with practically the same components as necessary for Ramanspectroscopy. One example is the technique of absorption spectroscopy.Absorption of light by molecules occurs at frequencies that are dictatedby their chemical structure. More specifically, absorption occurs atwavelengths that match one of the electronic, rotational, or vibrationaltransitions of a molecule. Hence a dip in transmission at a givenwavelength indicates the presence of a molecular transition at thatwavelength. Because electronic, rotational, and vibrational transitionsare particular to the chemical structure and symmetry of a molecule, thevarious dips in transmission recorded can be used to determine thepresence of a given molecule. The dips in transmission observed inabsorption spectroscopy are analogous to the shifts in frequencyobserved in Raman spectroscopy, and they too can be seen as “opticalfingerprints” by which molecules can be identified (in fact theabsorption spectrum and the Raman spectrum of a given molecule oftenresemble each other quite closely).

One key difference between the two techniques is that in absorptionspectroscopy, the illuminating laser has to be tuned to excite thetransition frequencies of the bonds or groups that vibrate for themolecule in question, whereas in Raman spectroscopy, the illuminatinglaser can be tuned to an arbitrary virtual energy state. Another exampleof a technique that can be used to investigate molecules is laserinduced breakdown spectroscopy. In this technique, a pulsed laser isfocused to a small spot within a sample. This highly energetic laserpulse forms a plasma in its focus, atomizing the molecules therein. Asthe plasma cools, excited atoms in the plasma emit light ofcharacteristic wavelengths distinctive to the plasma. This lightcontains the “optical fingerprint” of the elements contained in themolecules ablated by the laser pulse, and can therefore also be used toinvestigate their chemical structure.

In implementations in which Raman spectroscopy is employed, aspectrometer can include a light source, a sampling apparatus, and adetector. In the illustrated example, equivalent functionality isprovided by the light source 202, the optical sampling/filtering element210, and the detection system 208, individually or in concert (basedupon the design). From a functional perspective, the light source 202(e.g., a laser or an LED source) provides incident light for themolecules to scatter, and the detection system 208 collects, spectrallyseparates and/or filters the scattered light and measures the signal.While this functionality may be common to numerous Raman spectrometers,the design of the individual components (e.g., light source, detectionsystem) may vary based upon system and component parameters (e.g.,operating wavelength, detector sensitivity, spectrograph used toseparate the scattered light, physical footprint, etc.).

One or more system and component parameters, features, etc. may bedefined for spectroscopic analysis and detection of molecules present inthe wine bottle 100. For example, a relatively long wavelength may bechosen for the light source 202 such that the tinted glass (e.g., of thewine bottle 100) and the pigments in the wine are practically“invisible” to the incident light. In one arrangement, a 1064 nm lasermay be employed to perform Raman spectroscopy. Lasers of this type aregenerally considered advantageous for Raman spectroscopy because theyallow for substantial suppression of unwanted background absorption andfluorescence (absorbed and re-emitted light from molecules other thanthe molecules of interest) that can accompany and overwhelm the desiredRaman scattered light. In the particular application of TCA detection inbottles of wine, most of the unwanted background absorption andfluorescence can come from the tinted glass bottle and the pigments inthe wine. The laser used can be a continuous or pulsed laser, forexample an NdYag (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser.

In one implementation, the light source 202 can be a continuous-wavediode-pumped solid-state laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm and amaximal output power of 3.5 watts, a 05-01 Series Rumba™ laser fromCobolt AB. The power of the laser is chosen so as to maximize the signalobtained from the desired molecule in the bottle of wine. The strengthof the signal from a particular molecule is proportional to itsconcentration in the wine as well as to the power of the laser excitingthe Raman transition that gives rise to this signal. Hence, a laser witha higher power leads to a stronger signal (if there are more photonsimpinging on the molecule per unit time, there will be more Ramanscattered photons detected per unit time, and hence a stronger signal).For detecting wine taint, various types of detectors may be employed.For example, a germanium photodiode detector that is sensitive in thespectral fingerprint region of organic molecules like TCA may be used inthe detection system 208. This fingerprint region can be considered toreside in the near-infrared (NIR) mid-infrared (MIR) frequency range,with the Raman frequency shifts located between 400 and 4000 cm⁻¹(inverse centimeter unit, often used for spectroscopy) corresponding towavelengths of 2.5 to 25 μm. This fingerprint region can also beconsidered as including Raman scattered light with a wavelength range(rather than shift) of e.g., 1.11 to 1.85 μm. For example, the detector216 or 222 can be a germanium photodiode sensitive in the near infraredregion between 700 and 1800 nm from Thorlabs GmbH. Its power range isfrom 5 nW to 500 mW, and it has a resolution of 1 nW. This wide range insensitivities allows the photodiode both to detect the Raman scatteredlight and to align the optical components in the device. The photodiodeis read out by the PM100USB console, also from Thorlabs. This consoleallows computer control of the attached sensor and can be used withseveral different detectors.

In some implementations, the photodiode can be replaced by twophotodiodes, one which is sensitive at powers below 1 nW and has ahigher resolution, to be used for detection, and a second one which issensitive at powers up to 3 W, to be used for alignment.

In some implementations, the detector can be TE-cooled indium galliumarsenide (InGaAs) detector.

Along with different detector types, detection parameters may be definedand adjusted for the application. For example, to provide the requisitelevel of sensitivity, an appropriate signal-to-noise ratio may be neededand provided through one or more procedures, such as the suppression ofunwanted light (e.g., stray light from the light source 202, noisyambient light, Rayleigh scattered light, background fluorescence, etc.).Following suppression of unwanted light and spectral separation by aspectrograph, the obtained signal will consist of the total Ramanspectrum of all the molecules contained in the bottle of wine. Furthertechniques may be employed in order to isolate and distinguish the Ramansignal of a molecule of interest from the Raman signal of othermolecules contained in this spectrum. In one arrangement, the Ramanspectra of unwanted molecules within the total spectrum may beidentified by previous knowledge of these spectra (e.g., by previoustabulation, measurement, etc.) after spectral separation by aspectrograph and removed (e.g., by vector subtraction). The previousknowledge requisite can be incorporated into the software processingoperations of the software processing element 224 of the detectionsystem 208.

As described above, in another arrangement, optical filters remove allbut part of the desired Raman spectrum from the total obtained signalbefore it is detected, without the need for spectral separation. In thisarrangement, it may be possible to use a photodiode as the detector 216instead of a CCD. The spectra of unwanted reflections from the winebottle (e.g., at the air/bottle interface, the bottle/wine interface,etc.) can also be characterized (e.g., estimated, measured, etc.) andincluded in one or more pre-processing and/or processing operations(e.g., before information carried by the scattered light 206 is providedto the software processing element 218). Such pre-processing and/orprocessing operations can include removal of the unwanted spectra.

To identify the desired spectrum for the molecule of interest, one ormore techniques can be employed, e.g., optical and/or signal filtering,amplifying, etc. To manipulate the incident light 204 and the scatteredlight 206 preceding the acquisition of this spectrum, different designparameters may be employed. In one arrangement, the scattered light 206scattered by the contents of the bottle may be collected along the samepath as the incident light (e.g., in the backwards direction in amonostatic manner) by means of a dichroic mirror that is capable ofseparating the scattered light 206 from the incident light 204 andredirecting the scattered light 206 along a different path than theincident light 204. In another arrangement, the scattered light may becollected on the same axis as the incident light 204, but on the otherside of the bottle 100 (i.e., in the forward direction in a bistaticmanner). In another arrangement, the scattered light 206 may becollected in the forward direction, the backward direction, and at arange of angles in between. Such an arrangement can maximize thestrength of the collected signal, because molecules scatter light over asolid angle of 4π. Such an arrangement can be accomplished by usingmultiple detectors 216, 222 positioned at various points along theperimeter of the bottle 100.

In the illustrated example, light producing hardware (e.g. the lightsource 202 and the optical sampling/filtering element 210) and lightcollecting hardware (e.g., the detection system 208) are incorporatedinto a single device. However, one or more other types of devices,platforms, etc. may be utilized to provide the molecule of interestdetection functionality.

In one arrangement, a Raman spectrometer may be used for making suchmeasurements. Generally, such a spectrometer includes the light source202 such as a laser or LED source, the optical sampling/filteringelement 210, and the detection system 208. One or more types of lasersor LED may be used operable at a wavelength in the infrared spectralregion (e.g., at approximately 1064 nanometers (nm), 940 nm, 1120 nm,1320 nm, 1440 nm, etc.)). By operating in this spectral region, unwantedabsorption and fluorescence from the wine bottle and the pigments of thecontained wine can be substantially suppressed. Operating power mayrange from less than 500 milliwatts (mW) to more than one watt (e.g., afew watts). In general, the strength of the signal scattered by aparticular type of molecule is proportional to its concentration as wellas to the laser power exciting the Raman transition that produces thesignal. In other words, if more photons are impinging upon the moleculeper unit time, more Raman scattered photons will generally be detectedper unit time, thereby producing a relatively larger signal. In somearrangements, light source parameters may be defined to minimize healthand safety concerns. For example, the light source and associated opticsmay be placed in protective housing to reduce or prevent the probabilityof harming a user's eyes. In some implementations the power of the lightsource may be set to operate at a level that reduces the probability ofharming a user's eyes (e.g., by reducing the intensity of any specularreflections.

The detection system 208 may include one or more optical collectionelements 212, one or more filtering elements 214 and/or spectralseparation elements 220 (e.g., one or more optical filters such as abandpass filter or a dichroic filter, a diffraction grating such as avolume phase holographic transmission grating, etc.), various otheroptical components such as optical fibers, lenses, and mirrors, one ormore detectors 216, 222 (e.g., one or more charge-coupled device (CCD)detectors, photodiodes, etc.), and one or more software processingelements 218, 224. Normally, the type of spectrograph used in dispersiveRaman spectroscopy is a surface-relief reflective diffraction grating.Absorption spectroscopy uses a modified spectrograph of this type calleda monochromator. A diffraction grating can be considered as an opticalcomponent with a periodic structure that splits and diffracts light intobeams of different wavelengths. Such a periodic structure can forinstance be a repeating pattern of relatively small grooves or ridgesetched onto a surface at regularly spaced intervals. Diffractiongratings can be either transmissive or reflective and can modulate thephase rather than the amplitude of the incident light 204. Analternative to groove-based surface-relief diffraction gratings arevolume phase holographic transmission gratings (VPHTGs). VPHGTs do nothave physical grooves; instead, they contain an optically thick buttransmissive dichroic gelatin film which has a periodic hardness and ispositioned between layers (e.g., two) of clear glass or pure silica. Theperiodic hardness of the gelatin translates into a periodic refractiveindex which then modulates the light in a manner similar to asurface-relief pattern. VPHTGs are generally more efficient and produceless unwanted scattering.

Along with the various types of detectors that may be employed, variouselectronic components and other associated modules may be included withthe detector to provide additional functionality. For example, data fromthe detector is typically read and interpreted by the softwareprocessing element 218, 224 (e.g., processed by software, hardware, or acombination of software and hardware associated with a computingdevice). The software processing element 218, 224 may have otherfunctions. For example, one or more user interfaces may be provided foroperational control, data acquisition, data presentation, etc.

In implementations in which the scattered light 206 is filtered by thefiltering element 214 (e.g., a bandpass filter) and directed onto thesurface of the detector 216 (e.g., a photodiode), the softwareprocessing element 218 compares an output of the detector 216 to athreshold value to determine whether a signal for a molecule of interestis present.

In implementations in which a Raman spectrometer is used, the scatteredlight 206 is spectrally separated by the spectral separation element 220(e.g., a diffraction grating) and directed onto the surface of thedetector 222 (e.g., a CCD detector), the software processing element 224processes the signal from the scattered light 206 to remove unwantedsignals apart from the signals for the molecules of interest. The Ramanspectrometer generally includes a laser as the light source 202.

Depending on the implementation, various components may be used as thelight source 202. For example, several high powered LEDs in therequisite near infrared region can be used.

The spectral width of such LEDs is not as narrow as that of a laser, butan additional filter may be used to narrow the spectral width. Variousdevices may also be used as the detector 216, 222 in the detectionsystem 208. For example, one or more types of photodiode (e.g.,avalanche photodiodes) may be used to detect the scattered light.

Different light collection techniques may be used by the detector 216.For example, the detector 216 may employ one of several filteringtechniques (e.g., bandpass filters, dichroic filters, etc.) to isolateparticular spectral regions (e.g., frequencies, frequency bands, etc.)having particular spectral widths. In one arrangement, a narrow bandpassfilter may be used to isolate one or more of the frequency peaksassociated with the signal of a molecule of interest. By focusing uponsingle frequencies (and not broader spectra), a single signalcharacteristic such as amplitude may be used to ascertain the presenceof the molecule of interest (e.g., by applying one or more predeterminedthresholds). In this way, the presence or absence of the molecule ofinterest may be determined without the need to detect, spectrallyseparate, and characterize the total spectrum obtained from the bottleof wine (the combined spectrum of all the molecules present within it).In such an arrangement, a spectral separation element 220 such as aspectrograph is not needed, and previous knowledge of the spectra ofunwanted molecules does not need to be included in the softwareprocessing element 218.

In some implementations filtering element 214 includes two or threedifferent filters (e.g., optical filter). The first filter may be abandpass filter that is used to eliminate spectral noise from theincident light by blocking the transmission of substantially all but anarrow band of frequencies around a central frequency of interest whichis wholly transmitted. This first filter narrows the light andeliminates unwanted frequencies (e.g., the carrier frequency). Inimplementations where the light source 202 is an LED (e.g., a diffuselight source) this first filter can be used, and in implementationswhere light source 202 is a laser with a narrow spectral linewidth thisfirst filter can be omitted.

A second filter (e.g., optical filter) that is part of filtering element214 can be a longpass edge filter, a notch filter, etc., and is used tosuppress the unwanted Rayleigh scattered light that accompanies theRaman scattered light of interest. Longpass edge filters work byblocking transmission below a given frequency, and allowing transmissionabove it. Notch filters work by allowing the transmission of all but avery narrow band of frequencies around a central frequency that iswholly suppressed.

The third filter (e.g., optical filter) that is part of filteringelement 214 can be a very narrow bandpass filter used to isolate theRaman scattered light of interest (e.g., for TCA, methanethiol, etc.)from the rest of the light scattered by the sample. This filter ispicked such that its central wavelength matches the frequency of theRaman scattered light of interest. To isolate Raman scattered light fromthe molecule of interest the filter can be selected to isolate both thewavelength of particular molecule of interest as well as which of thegiven molecule's Raman shifts are isolated. It is also possible to do amulti-component analysis where select Raman peaks of several moleculescould be isolated. To change which molecule of interest (or particularRaman shift for a molecule of interest) device 100 is detecting, thethird filter used can be quickly and easily substituted for a differentthird filter having a different filtering capability specific to the newapplication.

These filters are easily interchangeable thin film disks about an inchin diameter which are available off the shelf in a variety of centralwavelengths but which can also be custom made to fit a desiredwavelength. As am example, the filters which make up filtering element214 can be made by Thorlabs GmbH.

One application of multi-component analysis is to identify counterfeitbottles of wine by looking for elevated levels of certain molecules likephenolic compounds, acids, ethanol, etc., which could mean they wereadded and not inherent in the grapes, which is not permitted in certainregions where fine wine is made.

One or more techniques may be employed to investigate specificfrequencies, relatively narrow frequency bands, etc.

The functional steps or detecting wine taint can be generally groupedinto four main parts: illumination, optical processing, detection, andsoftware processing. More specifically, a complete measurement includesinitiating illumination, expanding and/or directing the illuminatinglight into the bottle using optical components, filtering the scatteredlight or signals, detecting the filtered light, processing the detectedsignal by software which consists of recording the power incident on thephotodiode and determining whether it is above a predetermined thresholdlevel. Finally, the result can be displayed on a graphical userinterface (GUI). In some implementations, the software not only controlsdevice 200 function and initiates measurement, but also enables storageand transmission of the obtained data.

The method described above is similar to those used in Ramanspectrometers, but with differences in the filtering and signalprocessing. In a traditional Raman spectrometer the scattered light isoptically filtered to remove the unwanted Rayleigh scattered light thataccompanies the Raman scattered light of interest, and the incidentlight can be optically filtered to eliminate spectral noise that is notat the wavelength of interest. This is also done in device 200. However,in a Raman spectrometer, the key step in a measurement is the spectralseparation of the scattered light into all of its constituentfrequencies. The resulting spectrum contains the “optical fingerprints”of all the different molecules contained in the sample, is analyzed bysoftware, and molecules are identified by comparison with a database ofknown molecular spectra. These two key steps in a Ramanspectrometer—spectral separation and analysis by software—aresidestepped completely in device 200. In device 200, the scattered lightis instead optically filtered a second time to remove all but the lightat one particular frequency. This key step in device 200 does not takeplace in a conventional Raman spectrometer, and allows the softwareprocessing to be reduced to a simple threshold measurement. Device 200is simplified both in terms of hardware and software.

Raman spectrometers typically extract a full spectrum for analysis todetermine the composition of a sample or to identify one of severalsubstances in a sample. However, device 200 is configured to determine asmall number of predetermined molecules of interest in a sample, (e.g.,TCA and methanethiol) it is not necessary to spectrally separate thescattered light and analyze the total spectrum obtained. It suffices tolook for the presence of scattered light with a frequency correspondingto one of the Raman frequency shifts of the molecule of interest.

If the molecule of interest is present in the sample, Raman scatteredlight will have experienced the various frequency shifts associated withthe molecule's different vibrational states unique to its chemicalstructure, allowing the assumption that the molecule of interest ispresent in the sample. Optimally, a frequency shift is chosen which isparticular to the molecule of interest and does not coincide with any ofthe Raman shifts of other molecules that may be found in the sample.

By optically filtering the scattered light and focusing upon a singlefrequency, it is possible to just use the amplitude of the measuredsignal and a predetermined threshold value to ascertain the presence orabsence of a given molecule, without the need to obtain or characterizethe total combined Raman spectrum of all the molecules present in thesample using software. If light falls on the detector 216 and theamplitude of the signal recorded is above the threshold value, then themolecule of interest is present in the sample; if no light falls on thedetector 216 or the signal is below the threshold value, then themolecule is not present in the sample at a detectable level.

This threshold determination at a single frequency means that softwareprocessing is reduced to a simple yes/no determination. Furthermore, theCCD detector used in typical Raman spectrometers is replaced by aphotodiode. The molecule of interest detected can be changed by changingthe value of frequency that is optically filtered from the scatteredlight, requiring the substitution of one small component.

The same technique could apply to a device based on infrared absorptionspectroscopy instead of Raman spectroscopy. Infrared absorptionspectroscopy requires that infrared light covering a range ofwavelengths be directed onto the sample. The wavelength range ofinterest is either scanned by using a monochromator, or the scanning issimulated by means of a technique called infrared Fourier Transformspectroscopy, which allows for all frequencies to be collectedsimultaneously in a large range. In this implementation, if there isonly one predetermined molecule of interest in a sample, it would not benecessary to extract the full absorption spectrum of the sample. Rather,device 200 detects the absence of scattered light at a frequencycorresponding to one of the dips in transmission associated with themolecule's different vibrational states. Thus, a device based oninfrared absorption would be functionally similar to the one based onRaman scattering.

For example, using one technique, a filter or a combination of filtersmay be used to focus on the TCA, methanethiol, etc. response of thereceived signal. Various types of filtering techniques could beincorporated into the filtering element 214 of the detection system 208.For example, bandpass filters, notch filters, edge filters (long pass orshort pass filters), etc. may be used to help isolate the response ofthe molecule of interest. Such filters may serve several purposesconducive to the isolation of the signal, e.g., narrowing the frequencyof the incoming light, suppressing Rayleigh scattering, isolating a peakin the molecule of interest spectrum, etc. To suppress unwanted lightsignals, various types of processing techniques can be used. Forexample, calibration techniques may be used to first characterize signalsources other than molecule of interest (e.g., unwanted Raman scatteringor fluorescence from the bottle, water molecules, etc.). Oncecharacterized (e.g., within the frequency bands of interest), one ormore processing techniques may be employed to substantially suppress,remove, etc. signal content associated with these unwanted sources. Forexample, estimation techniques, measurements, etc. may be used todetermine the spectrum of the unwanted signal sources within thefrequency bands of interest. Next, these determined spectral quantitiesrepresented by, e.g., amplitude, may be removed from the total signalresponse of the wine present in the bottle 100, leaving only thespectral response of the molecule of interest. In a sense, the datarepresenting light signals (e.g., scattering or fluorescence) fromunwanted sources can be removed enough to substantially isolate thesignal gathered from the molecule of interest. Once isolated, the signalcan be processed (e.g., by the software processing element 218, 224) todetermine if the wine should be considered “corked” or appropriate forconsumption.

Once this information is collected, processed, etc., additionaloperations and functionality may be employed. For example, one or morenetworking techniques (e.g., wireless networking) may be used todistribute the obtained data to other relevant persons (e.g., wineproducers, distributors, etc.), facilities (e.g., storage sites,processing locations, etc.), etc. for dissemination and later use. Thedata may also be provided to facilities for storage, further analysisand presentation (e.g., on a web-based asset such as a website). Thedata may be used for a variety of applications, such as comparativestudies, on-going wine storage transportation analysis, etc.

Referring to FIG. 3, a flowchart 300 illustrates the operations of theliquid fault detection system (e.g., the light source 202, the opticalsampling/filtering element 210 and the detection system 208 shown inFIG. 2). Operations of the fault detection system are typically executedby a single device (e.g., the device 200). However, operations may alsobe executed by multiple devices. Along with being executed at a singlesite (e.g., the location of a wine bottle), the execution of operationsmay be distributed among two or more locations. In some arrangements, aportion of the operations may be executed at a central location (e.g., awine data center or similar facility).

Operations of the liquid fault detection system may include initiating302 transmissions of incident light from one or more light sources to asealed bottle containing liquid. For example, a wine bottle (e.g. thewine bottle 100) may be illuminated as initiated by a light sourceincorporated into a device (e.g., a laser, LED, etc. provided by thelight source 202 of the device 200). Operations also include receiving304 scattered light from the liquid contained in the sealed bottle. Forexample, scattered light from the bottle and the liquid content of thebottle may be received by a detector incorporated into the device (e.g.,the detector 216, 222 of the detection system 208). Operations can alsoinclude processing 306 one or more signals representative of thescattered light to detect interactions of the incident light with aparticular molecule present in the contained liquid. For example, theparticular molecule may be TCA. The scattered light may be filteredprior to processing one or more signals representative of the scatteredlight. The scattered light may also be filtered prior to being received(e.g., by a detector such as the filtering element 214, which can be abandpass filter that isolates one of the peaks in the TCA frequencyspectrum). The scattered light may also be filtered as part of theprocessing. In this way, processing one or more signals representativeof the scattered light includes filtering the signals. Alternatively,the scattered light may be spectrally separated (e.g., by the spectralseparation element 220) prior to processing one or more signalsrepresentative of the scattered light, and the scattered light may befiltered subsequent to being received by a detector (e.g., bysubtracting unwanted signals from the total obtained spectrum with thesoftware processing element 218, 224). By blocking or subtractingunwanted light signals in this way, a representative measure of theamount of TCA present in the contained wine may be produced.

FIG. 4 shows an example computer device 400 and an example mobilecomputer device 450 (e.g., which can be, e.g., the device 200), whichcan be used to implement the techniques described herein. For example, aportion or all of the operations of the light source 202, the opticalsampling/filtering element 210, and the detection system 208 (shown inFIG. 2) may be executed by the computer device 400 and/or the mobilecomputer device 450. Computing device 400 is intended to representvarious forms of digital computers, including, e.g., laptops, desktops,workstations, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers,mainframes, and other appropriate computers. Computing device 450 isintended to represent various forms of mobile devices, including, e.g.,personal digital assistants, tablet computing devices, cellulartelephones, smartphones, and other similar computing devices. Thecomponents shown here, their connections and relationships, and theirfunctions, are meant to be examples only, and are not meant to limitimplementations of the techniques described and/or claimed in thisdocument.

Computing device 400 includes processor 402, memory 404, storage device406, high-speed interface 408 connecting to memory 404 and high-speedexpansion ports 410, and low speed interface 412 connecting to low speedbus 414 and storage device 406. Each of components 402, 404, 406, 408,410, and 412, are interconnected using various busses, and can bemounted on a common motherboard or in other manners as appropriate.Processor 402 can process instructions for execution within computingdevice 400, including instructions stored in memory 404 or on storagedevice 406 to display graphical data for a GUI on an externalinput/output device, including, e.g., display 416 coupled to high speedinterface 408. In other implementations, multiple processors and/ormultiple busses can be used, as appropriate, along with multiplememories and types of memory. Also, multiple computing devices 400 canbe connected, with each device providing portions of the necessaryoperations (e.g., as a server bank, a group of blade servers, or amulti-processor system).

Memory 404 stores data within computing device 400. In oneimplementation, memory 404 is a volatile memory unit or units. Inanother implementation, memory 404 is a non-volatile memory unit orunits. Memory 404 also can be another form of computer-readable medium(e.g., a magnetic or optical disk. Memory 404 may be non-transitory.)

Storage device 406 is capable of providing mass storage for computingdevice 400. In one implementation, storage device 406 can be or containa computer-readable medium (e.g., a floppy disk device, a hard diskdevice, an optical disk device, or a tape device, a flash memory orother similar solid state memory device, or an array of devices, such asdevices in a storage area network or other configurations.) A computerprogram product can be tangibly embodied in a data carrier. The computerprogram product also can contain instructions that, when executed,perform one or more methods (e.g., those described above). The datacarrier is a computer- or machine-readable medium, (e.g., memory 404,storage device 406, memory on processor 402, and the like).

High-speed controller 408 manages bandwidth-intensive operations forcomputing device 400, while low speed controller 412 manages lowerbandwidth-intensive operations. Such allocation of functions is anexample only. In one implementation, high-speed controller 408 iscoupled to memory 404, display 416 (e.g., through a graphics processoror accelerator), and to high-speed expansion ports 410, which can acceptvarious expansion cards (not shown). In the implementation, low-speedcontroller 412 is coupled to storage device 406 and low-speed expansionport 414. The low-speed expansion port, which can include variouscommunication ports (e.g., USB, Bluetooth®, Ethernet, wirelessEthernet), can be coupled to one or more input/output devices (e.g., akeyboard, a pointing device, a scanner, or a networking device includinga switch or router, e.g., through a network adapter.)

Computing device 400 can be implemented in a number of different forms,as shown in FIG. 4. For example, it can be implemented as standardserver 420, or multiple times in a group of such servers. It also can beimplemented as part of rack server system 424. In addition or as analternative, it can be implemented in a personal computer (e.g., laptopcomputer 422). In some examples, components from computing device 400can be combined with other components in a mobile device (not shown),e.g., device 450. Each of such devices can contain one or more ofcomputing device 400, 450, and an entire system can be made up ofmultiple computing devices 400, 450 communicating with each other.

Computing device 450 includes processor 452, memory 464, an input/outputdevice (e.g., display 454, communication interface 466, and transceiver468), among other components. Device 450 also can be provided with astorage device, (e.g., a microdrive or other device) to provideadditional storage. Each of components 450, 452, 464, 454, 466, and 468,are interconnected using various buses, and several of the componentscan be mounted on a common motherboard or in other manners asappropriate.

Processor 452 can execute instructions within computing device 450,including instructions stored in memory 464. The processor can beimplemented as a chipset of chips that include separate and multipleanalog and digital processors. The processor can provide, e.g., forcoordination of the other components of device 450 (e.g., control ofuser interfaces, applications run by device 450, and wirelesscommunication by device 450).

Processor 452 can communicate with a user through control interface 458and display interface 456 coupled to display 454. Display 454 can be,e.g., a TFT LCD (Thin-Film-Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) or an OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) display, or other appropriate displaytechnology. Display interface 456 can include appropriate circuitry fordriving display 454 to present graphical and other data to a user.Control interface 458 can receive commands from a user and convert themfor submission to processor 452. In addition, external interface 462 cancommunicate with processor 452 so as to enable near area communicationof device 450 with other devices. External interface 462 can provide,e.g., for wired communication in some implementations, or for wirelesscommunication in other implementations, and multiple interfaces also canbe used.

Memory 464 stores data within computing device 450. Memory 464 can beimplemented as one or more of a computer-readable medium or media, avolatile memory unit or units, or a non-volatile memory unit or units.Expansion memory 474 also can be provided and connected to device 450through expansion interface 472, which can include, e.g., a SIMM (SingleIn Line Memory Module) card interface. Such expansion memory 474 canprovide extra storage space for device 450, or also can storeapplications or other data for device 450. Specifically, expansionmemory 474 can include instructions to carry out or supplement theprocesses described above, and can include secure data also. Thus, e.g.,expansion memory 474 can be provided as a security module for device450, and can be programmed with instructions that permit secure use ofdevice 450. In addition, secure applications can be provided through theSIMM cards, along with additional data, (e.g., placing identifying dataon the SIMM card in a non-hackable manner.)

The memory can include, e.g., flash memory and/or NVRAM memory, asdiscussed below. In one implementation, a computer program product istangibly embodied in a data carrier. The computer program productcontains instructions that, when executed, perform one or more methods(e.g., those described above). The data carrier is a computer- ormachine-readable medium (e.g., memory 464, expansion memory 474, and/ormemory on processor 452), which can be received, e.g., over transceiver468 or external interface 462.

Device 450 can communicate wirelessly through communication interface466, which can include digital signal processing circuitry wherenecessary. Communication interface 466 can provide for communicationsunder various modes or protocols (e.g.,

GSM voice calls, SMS, EMS, or MMS messaging, CDMA, TDMA, PDC, WCDMA,CDMA2000, or GPRS, among others.) Such communication can occur, e.g.,through radio-frequency transceiver 468. In addition, short-rangecommunication can occur, e.g., using a Bluetooth®, WiFi, or other suchtransceiver (not shown). In addition, GPS (Global Positioning System)receiver module 470 can provide additional navigation- andlocation-related wireless data to device 450, which can be used asappropriate by applications running on device 450. Sensors and modulessuch as cameras, microphones, compasses, accelerators (for orientationsensing), etc. may be included in the device.

Device 450 also can communicate audibly using audio codec 460, which canreceive spoken data from a user and convert it to usable digital data.Audio codec 460 can likewise generate audible sound for a user, (e.g.,through a speaker in a handset of device 450.) Such sound can includesound from voice telephone calls, recorded sound (e.g., voice messages,music files, and the like) and also sound generated by applicationsoperating on device 450.

Computing device 450 can be implemented in a number of different forms,as shown in the figure. For example, it can be implemented as cellulartelephone 480. It also can be implemented as part of smartphone 482, apersonal digital assistant, or other similar mobile device.

Various implementations of the systems and techniques described here canbe realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry,specially designed ASICs (application specific integrated circuits),computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof.These various implementations can include implementation in one or morecomputer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on aprogrammable system including at least one programmable processor. Theprogrammable processor can be special or general purpose, coupled toreceive data and instructions from, and to transmit data andinstructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and atleast one output device.

These computer programs (also known as programs, software, softwareapplications or code) include machine instructions for a programmableprocessor, and can be implemented in a high-level procedural and/orobject-oriented programming language and/or in assembly/machinelanguage. As used herein, the terms machine-readable medium andcomputer-readable medium refer to a computer program product, apparatusand/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, ProgrammableLogic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions and/or datato a programmable processor, including a machine-readable medium thatreceives machine instructions.

To provide for interaction with a user, the systems and techniquesdescribed here can be implemented on a computer having a device fordisplaying data to the user (e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD(liquid crystal display) monitor), and a keyboard and a pointing device(e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user can provide input tothe computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide forinteraction with a user as well; e.g., feedback provided to the user canbe a form of sensory feedback; e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback,or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in a form,including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

The systems and techniques described here can be implemented in acomputing system that includes a backend component (e.g., as a dataserver), or that includes a middleware component (e.g., an applicationserver), or a frontend component (e.g., a client computer having a userinterface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with animplementation of the systems and techniques described here), or acombination of such back end, middleware, or frontend components. Thecomponents of the system can be interconnected by a form or medium ofdigital data communication (e.g., a communication network). Examples ofcommunication networks include a local area network (LAN), a wide areanetwork (WAN), and the Internet.

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

In some implementations, the engines described herein can be separated,combined or incorporated into a single or combined engine. The enginesdepicted in the figures are not intended to limit the systems describedhere to the software architectures shown in the figures.

While the system has been described as being capable of detected taintedwine by detecting TCA or methanetiol, the system can alternatively beused to detect the presence of other molecules in other liquids. Forexample, the system can be used to detect the presence of lactic, malic,and/or citric acid molecules in a liquid (e.g., a wine). In anotherexample, the system can be used to detect the presence of harmfulbacteria in a medical fluid (e.g., an IV drip).

While the system has been described as employing Raman spectroscopy,other types of spectroscopy can be employed. For example, the system ofFIG. 2 may employ absorption spectroscopy or laser induced breakdownspectroscopy. The various components of the system may be configured tobe operational with the alternative type of spectroscopy.

A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will beunderstood that various modifications can be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the processes and techniques described herein.In addition, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require theparticular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirableresults. In addition, other steps can be provided, or steps can beeliminated, from the described flows, and other components can be addedto, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, otherembodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computing device implemented method comprising:initiating transmission of incident light from one or more light sourcesto a sealed bottle containing liquid; receiving scattered light from theliquid contained in the sealed bottle; and processing one or moresignals representative of the scattered light to detect interactions ofthe incident light with a particular molecule.
 2. The computing deviceimplemented method of claim 1, further comprising: filtering thescattered light prior to processing one or more signals representativeof the scattered light.
 3. The computing device implemented method ofclaim 1, wherein processing one or more signals representative of thescattered light comprises filtering signals.
 4. The computing deviceimplemented method of claim 3, wherein filtering the scattered lightcomprises passing frequencies of the received scattered light that arewithin a particular frequency range.
 5. The computing device implementedmethod of claim 1, further comprising: spectrally separating thescattered light prior to processing one or more signals representativeof the scattered light.
 6. The computing device implemented method ofclaim 1, wherein the liquid is wine.
 7. The computing device implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein the particular molecule is trichloroanisoleor methanethiol.
 8. The computing device implemented method of claim 7,wherein processing comprises determining from the interactions of theincident light with the trichloroanisole molecule or methanethiol if theliquid is tainted.
 9. The computing device implemented method of claim1, wherein processing one or more signals representative of thescattered light comprises determining if the received scattered light isabove a threshold value.
 10. The computing device implemented method ofclaim 1, wherein the light source comprises a laser.
 11. A systemcomprising: a computing device comprising: a memory configured to storeinstructions; and a processor to execute the instructions to performoperations comprising: initiating transmission of incident light fromone or more light sources to a sealed bottle containing liquid;receiving scattered light from the liquid contained in the sealedbottle; and processing one or more signals representative of thescattered light to detect interactions of the incident light with aparticular molecule.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the liquid iswine.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the particular molecule istrichloroanisole.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein processingcomprises determining from the interactions of the incident light withthe trichloroanisole molecule if the liquid is tainted.
 15. The systemof claim 11, wherein the light source comprises a laser.
 16. One or morecomputer-readable media storing instructions that are executable by aprocessing device, and upon such execution cause the processing deviceto perform operations comprising: initiating transmission of incidentlight from one or more light sources to a sealed bottle containingliquid; receiving scattered light from the liquid contained in thesealed bottle; and processing one or more signals representative of thescattered light to detect interactions of the incident light with aparticular molecule.
 17. The computer-readable media of claim 16,wherein liquid is wine.
 18. The computer-readable media of claim 16,wherein the particular molecule is trichloroanisole.
 19. Thecomputer-readable media of claim 18, wherein processing comprisesdetermining from the interactions of the incident light with thetrichloroanisole molecule if the liquid is tainted.
 20. Thecomputer-readable media of claim 16, wherein the light source comprisesa laser.